Does This Transfusion Make Me Look Gay?
Grievous conditions you’re more likely to catch accidentally on the street in Philadelphia than you are to get AIDS from a gay man’s donated (and when we say “donated” we mean screened and tested) blood:
* Plantar warts;
* The desire to wear halter tops to show off your back fat;
* Gunshot wound, any type;
* Contact high (dependent upon neighborhood)
* Belief that flannel “lounge pants” festooned with Eagles/Phillies/Flyers logos are appropriate dining-out attire
All of which is just a bitchy way of us pointing out that under the FDA rules, any man who admits to having sex with another man — even once, even safely — since 1977 is barred for life from giving blood. Since we believe it possible for a man to experiment sexually and yet not actually identify as gay (Pastor Haggard, line one!), the FDA’s stance smells almost murderous.
FDA: “Gay” Blood = Good Enough To Spill In Iraq, Not To Be Given Willingly
May 24th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
thx for posting this - as someone in the public eye, i’ve been asked to participate with various events that include the Red Cross and/or a Blood Drive … as much as I am supportive of what the Red Cross offers to those in need, this sorely outdated rule (created almost 20 years ago in the dark ages of HIV) makes it a challenge for me to really step up and be supportive of an org that is not supportive of me.
RD
May 24th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
oh - in case someone wonders - yea, i know it’s the FDA and not the Red Cross that is the root of this - however, the Red Cross took 23 years (March 2006) to even get to the stage of suggesting this rule was outdated…
May 24th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
How do they enfore this, exactly? Do they put “Last Dance” on the turntable and gauge your reaction?
May 24th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
actually - if they DID do that, only straight girls hopped up on Red Bull and Vodkas would react …
as a gay male that has a large (wait for it, wait for it) classic disco collection, i’d never react over a burnt track like that
… thats just so str8!
;)
May 24th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
As my old friend Britt, God rest ‘em, used to say: Forward, darling, NEVER straight.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Some questions they could ask to increase accuracy in risk-assessment:
1. Are you married? (If no, please proceed to question 5)
2. Have you ever posted an ad on craigslist looking for “NSA head?”
3. Are you from Jersey? (If no, please proceed to question 5)
4. When was the last time you “came into the city” and trolled Washington West for tranny hooker cock?
5. Since 1977, have you been to TyZ or the DCA/2-4/Pure?